Player Harry Inch

[mt.wellington]

Harry Inch​

Top prospect Inch signs with Warriors for two years​

Richard Becht & photosport.nz
Fri 17 Oct 2025, 12:59 pm

Highly-regarded rugby union prospect Harry Inch’s two-year contract with the One New Zealand Warriors has been officially confirmed today.

The Nelson-raised 19-year-old playmaker is switching codes after an impressive junior career which saw him ranked one of the country’s most outstanding new talents.

Inch was a standout in the Nelson College First XV’s impressive campaign in 2024 which saw it reach the final of the national secondary schools’ quadrangular tournament before losing to Hamilton Boys’ High School.

He made the New Zealand Schools side and was later brought into the Tasman Mako and Crusaders development programmes.

“We’ve been interested in Harry for some time and we’re delighted to sign him,” said One New Zealand Warriors general manager recruitment, pathways and development Andrew McFadden.

“He’s a terrific player and a great young person with all the attributes needed to go a long way in rugby league. As well as his set of skills, he has a real toughness about him.”

Easily recognisable by his curly-haired mullet, Inch had some game time in a Super Rugby trial match for the Crusaders against the Blues earlier this year when he lined up outside Wallabies first five-eighth James O’Connor.

“He’s so tough. He’s just not afraid of anything. He’s a farmer, [with] farmer strength. He beats all the boys in the wrestles in the gym and he’s just a kid out of school,” Crusaders assistant coach James Marshall said at the time.

Inch will join the One New Zealand Warriors’ Jersey Flegg Cup (under-21) squad when pre-season training starts next month.

Among the other new faces in the squad will be hooker Braelan Marsh – son of former Warrior PJ Marsh – who was signed last month.

Top prospect Inch signs with Warriors for two years

Highly-regarded Harry Inch’s two-year deal with One New Zealand Warriors officially confirmed.

www.warriors.kiwi

 

[mt.wellington]

Inch footing it with big boys​

Stephen Stuart
Fri, Jul 18, 2025 8:53 AM

Former schoolboy star Harry Inch training with the Tasman Mako this week after securing a full NPC contract. Photo: Jason Oldfield.

Former Nelson College playmaker Harry Inch has graduated to provincial level at just 19.

The Brightwater age grade rugby star is the latest of 31 players to be confirmed in the Tasman Mako squad with the captain due to be announced on Monday.

Rather than ease last year’s New Zealand Schools first five in with a development contract, which more mean fewer opportunities, Harry has been awarded a full contract.

“He is a good local boy with a hell of a lot of potential and the right attitude. We are excited to help him grow,” enthuses Mako coach Gray Cornelius.

“He’s tough, has a good pass and defence. To be honest we are looking at him more as a second five.”

That backline shift was highlighted by the Lincoln College student running around with No. 12 on his back at training this week.

Harry’s returned from six months in Christchurch where he got to play a pre-season match with the Crusaders.

“It was a wicked experience to be surrounded by those lads and outside James O’Connor was pretty out the gate,” says Harry, who was blown away by 35-year-old Australian utility back.

“I know he is getting on but he’s looks younger than me. He is so talented and sharp off his feet.”

He certainly made an impression on senior Crusader Quinten Strange.

“Harry is very talented but that is no surprise given the amount of work he puts in. He is still developing so it is going to be awesome to see where he gets to in a couple of years,” says the fellow Nelson College product.

Harry turned out for Old Boys in Christchurch club rugby with several of his former college teammates and Tasman Mako halfback Louie Chapman who was officially confirmed in the Canterbury rugby squad this week.

“It was good fun. A good mix of ages and the old fellas kept us in line,” declares Harry who has put his agricultural studies on hold.

He is understandably a bit starry-eyed about the backline quality at the Mako.

“It is crazy with the big names floating around this team. It is kind of surreal. The step up is massive but those players have been really welcoming. They drive the standards and everything kind of flows from that. As for second five, it is a pretty similar role to 10 just a step further out in the backline,” says the hard charging ball runner.

There was no missing the newcomer at training with the mullet hair style still a head turner.

“It is due a bit of a trim up, there is probably something floating around in it that isn’t supposed to be.”

When he’s not tearing it up on the rugby field, Harry is also a keen hunter.

“I love getting out in the hills, stretching the pins and chasing a few critters,” says Harry who was pleased to report the rainfall that has hammered Wakefield goes down as quickly as it comes up.

You can expect the provincial rookie and understudy to 30 test All Black and Crusaders Captain David Havili, to get game time when the Mako play Southland in a pre-season friendly in Christchurch next Friday afternoon.

Inch footing it with big boys

nelsonapp.co.nz

 

[mt.wellington]

Friday, 13 December 2024

Schoolboy rugby star heads to university in Canterbury​

By Sam Coughlan

Harry Inch will join Lincoln University next year. Photo: Getty Images

The man with the mullet who took the Miles Toyota Premiership by storm is poised to take his talents to Lincoln University in 2025.

Former Nelson College first five-eighth and captain Harry Inch, who sports a mop of curly hair, was one of the country’s best schoolboy players this year.

He led Nelson to win the Crusaders schools’ title and to the final of the national first XV championships, where they lost to Hamilton Boys’ High School.

Harry Inch is participating in the Crusaders' off-season training before Lincoln University's pre-season starts in January. PHOTO: CRUSADERS

Inch has been awarded Lincoln University’s $6000 rugby scholarship, dependent on passing his NCEA level three exams.

If so, he will turn out for the club next year, as well as joining the Crusaders academy.

Lincoln University strength and conditioning coach Jarrad Choat said the club was looking forward to having Inch on board.

“He is an exciting prospect. For him to come here and learn and grow off other players, hopefully that will allow him to become a better player himself and also help those players around him here.”

Inch received the Philip McDonald Memorial Award as the most valuable player in the schools’ competition. He also turned out for NZ Schoolboys against Australia, NZ Māori and Samoa.

Nelson also beat Christ’s College in the final of the quadrangular tournament, Inch slotting a drop goal from more than 40 metres.

Choat said Inch’s class would likely see him be involved in the division 1 team next year – a rarity for a first-year student.

Lincoln’s pre-season starts in January but Inch has been training with the Crusaders during their off-season.

Schoolboy rugby star heads to university in Canterbury

The man with the mullet who took the Miles Toyota Premiership by storm is poised to take his talents to Lincoln University in 2025. Former Nelson...

www.odt.co.nz